Lovecraftian film favourites

There's a steady stream of Lovecraft flicks trickling out these days. Most of these are ultra-low-budget fan adaptations who actually tend to be better than the major movies, because they tend to stick more closely to Lovecraft's original stories. Still, for someone like Lord Bassington-Bassington, whose approach to Lovecraft is through an interest in the numinous they tend to leave a bit to be desired. For frankly, very few of these films manage to maintain the sense of the mystical and otherworldly that one gets from Lovecraft's best stories.

Lord Bassington-Bassington was a bit disappointed by the recent adaptation of The Whispererer in Darkness. For instead of cosmic horror, the creators seemed to want a science fiction adventure film. As an aside, Lord Bassington-Bassington has actually found that Whisperer is better on the second watching, as one won't be disappointed by what one gets. And anyway, it made His Lordship read a whole biography of Charles Fort.

But some films really manage to maintain the mystical and mysterious. So without further digressions here's a few of His Lordship's favourite short Lovecraft adaptations.



Nyarlathotep was one of the first Lovecraftian amateur productions Lord Bassington-Bassington ever saw, and it still has a special place in his heart. The film is available on DVD as part of Lurker Films' Lovecraft Collection, and is an essential addition to any Lovecraftian household.



Sweden is a happening place for Lovecraftian adaptations, apparently. This production is also available on DVD, which includes some spiffy behind-the-scenes features, and has already found its way to the shelves here at Bassington Manor. Lord Bassington-Bassington would like to claim that this is part of his policy of supporting independent artists, but in reality it might be mostly due to His Lordship's sad collector's mania.

Oh, go and see the film Nightgaunts too, by the same people.



Alexander Pavlenko delivers an excellent interpretation of Lovecraft's story "The Temple", Lovecraft's treatment of the Atlantis myth. And while on the subject of lost worlds, Mr. Pavlenko's meditation on Jewish life in Russia (or is it the Ukraine?) is certainly worth seven minutes of your time. See it here.



And looking forward, Lord Bassington-Bassington suspects that the new film Miskatonic University might be worth seeing.

Perhaps it's time for another Lovecraftian film festival...